Production Practices and Quality Assessment of Food Crops. Vol. 1

234 S. A. Ordoudi and M. Z. Tsimidou
1989). As biomarkers may be also used crocetin derivatives present in the stigmas
of other crocuses but not identified in C. sativus (Rychener et al., 1984). Extracts
from saffron and Gardenia fruit seemed to contain the same yellow pigments
(Kamikura and Nakazato, 1985) so that the latter is a potential substitute or
adulterant.
4. EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON QUALITY
The concept on the quality of agricultural products has been substantially changed
since the 80s. The quality of raw materials is definitely considered as a prerequisite
for the quality of the final product and, consequently, agricultural practices
are equally important to technologies applied to ensure food wholesomeness and
safety. Regardless the size of the plant, the ‘state of art’ of agricultural practices
should be scientifically supported. In the case of saffron, control of its authenticity
is not the panacea. Agricultural practices do vary from producer to producer
and from country to country though the argument ‘all are doing the same from
the father to the son’ is common. Therefore, the implementation of parameters,
such as propagation and cultivation practices, control of pests and diseases and
also the harvesting and handling of flowers till the fresh stigmas are separated, on
the spice quality are discussed on the basis of literature, experimentation and personal
experience.
4.1. Propagation practices
A full description of the botany, taxonomy and cytology of C. sativus L. and its
allies has been repeatedly detailed by Mathew (1999). Information can be also found
in papers on the biochemical evolution of Iridaceae. The saffron plant is propagated
by the cormlets (or daughter corms) formed by the mother corm. The corm
that is up to 5 cm in diameter, is depressed-globose, flattened at the base with fibrous
tunics. The fibres are very slender and finely reticulated, extended at the apex of
the corm into a neck up to 5 cm long. The corms remain dormant during the summer
months and grow at about the end of the summer season (Sampathu et al., 1984).
The plant flowers (1–4 per plant) appear in autumn from October to late November.
They are fragrant, deep lilac-purple with darker veins and a darker violet stain in
the white or lilac throat. The pistil is in the center of the flower from which the
style arises. The style in the upper part is divided into three deep red branches, or
three-lobe stigmas. Three yellow anthers also arise from the throat of the flower.
Growth of leaves (5–11, green, 1.5–2.5 mm wide) roots and, in parallel, sprouting
of mother corms follow up till February. Death of mother corms and intensive growth
of daughter corms is observed in this period. From March to May leaves, mother
corm and roots are completely dried up and the bulb remains dormant till the end
of summer.
The low fertility of C. sativus is partially due to an irregular meiosis and also
because the ovarian transmitting tissue prevented penetration of the ovules
(Chichiricco and Grilli Caiola, 1986). The vegetative type of reproduction leads